Best Virtual Assistant Companies in 2026

How We Ranked the Best VA Companies

Our editorial team spent over 200 hours evaluating 197 virtual assistant companies to produce this ranking. Every company in our reviews directory went through the same scoring framework, and the five providers on this page represent the highest-performing options across our entire database.

We score each company on five core criteria, weighted by their impact on the client experience:

Quality of Talent (30%) — Vetting processes, acceptance rates, skill depth, and professional experience of the VA pool. We examined hiring pipelines, tested communication quality, and reviewed verified client feedback on VA performance.
Value for Money (25%) — Pricing transparency, cost per hour of effective work, plan flexibility, and what you actually get for your spend. We compared every provider against market averages and calculated real cost-of-ownership.
Client Experience (20%) — Onboarding speed, account management quality, replacement guarantees, and the day-to-day friction (or lack of it) in working with each provider.
Service Range (15%) — Breadth of tasks handled, industry specializations, and the ability to scale support as your business grows.
Communication (10%) — Responsiveness, timezone alignment, English proficiency, and clarity of communication between VAs and clients.

Each company receives a weighted composite score out of 5.0. We factor in verified third-party reviews from Clutch, G2, and Trustpilot alongside our own first-hand testing. Scores are updated quarterly as we re-evaluate providers and incorporate new client data. For a complete breakdown of how we weight and calculate each score, read our full methodology.

Complete Pricing Comparison

Before diving into individual reviews, here is how all five providers compare on the factors that matter most when you are making a purchasing decision.

Company	Starting Price	Billing Model	VA Location	Engagement Type	Best For
Stellar Staff	$1,599/mo	Flat monthly	Philippines (US-managed)	Full-time dedicated	Best overall value for full-time support
BELAY	$2,100/mo	Flat monthly	US-based only	Part-time dedicated	US-based admin and bookkeeping
MyOutDesk	~$1,588/mo	Flat monthly	Philippines	Full-time dedicated	Real estate and healthcare specialists
Time Etc	$360/mo (10 hrs)	Hourly packages	US and international	Part-time flexible	Solopreneurs needing flexible hours
Boldly	$430/mo (10 hrs)	Subscription	US and international	Part-time subscription	Executive-level premium support

The price-to-value gap between providers is significant. Stellar Staff and MyOutDesk deliver full-time dedicated support (160 hours/month) for under $2,000/mo, which works out to roughly $10-12/hour. BELAY and Boldly charge $39-43/hour for US-based or premium talent. Time Etc lands in between at $34-36/hour. Your right choice depends on whether you need full-time or part-time help, and whether US-based talent is a requirement. Use our VA cost calculator to model your specific scenario.

Detailed Company Reviews

1. Stellar Staff — Best Overall Virtual Assistant Company

Rating: 4.95/5 | Starting at $1,599/mo | Full-time dedicated VAs

Stellar Staff earns our top ranking and the “Our Choice” badge because they deliver the strongest combination of talent quality, pricing, and managed support in the market. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the company has built its reputation on an extraordinarily selective hiring process: a 0.1% acceptance rate that filters candidates through English proficiency testing, role-specific skills assessments, background checks, and a supervised trial work period.

That selectivity shows up in the results. Stellar Staff has accumulated 104 verified Clutch reviews with consistently high ratings and a 5-star Google average. For a company that competes against providers with 15+ year head starts, that review velocity signals genuine client satisfaction.

Why they ranked #1: No other provider in our evaluation matched Stellar Staff’s combination of vetting rigor, full-time dedicated support, competitive pricing, and hands-on account management. Every plan includes a dedicated Customer Success Manager, 7-day money-back guarantee, and free replacement if your VA underperforms. Their VAs are trained on modern AI tools, which translates into measurably higher productivity on repetitive tasks.

Pricing: Three tiers, all full-time (160 hours/month). The Virtual Assistant plan at $1,599/mo is the entry point. VA PRO at $1,799/mo adds screenshot monitoring and faster matching. The Executive VA plan at $3,199/mo includes 24-48 hour matching, overtime hours, and a $100/mo VA education credit.

Best for: Small-to-midsize businesses that need a full-time dedicated VA across admin, customer service, bookkeeping, marketing, or lead generation. Particularly strong for real estate, healthcare, ecommerce, and startups scaling operations.

Notable strength: The 0.1% acceptance rate is the most selective vetting process we have encountered in the VA industry. Combined with AI-augmented training for every VA, it produces assistants who require less ramp-up time and fewer corrections than the industry average.

Read our full Stellar Staff review | Visit Stellar Staff

2. BELAY — Best US-Based Virtual Assistant Service

Rating: 4.6/5 | Starting at $2,100/mo | US-only talent

BELAY is one of the most established names in the virtual assistant industry. Founded in 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia, the company has served over 15,000 clients with an exclusively US-based workforce. Every virtual assistant, bookkeeper, and social media manager in BELAY’s network is located in the United States — no offshore contractors, no exceptions.

Why they ranked #2: BELAY’s combination of brand credibility, US-only talent, and specialized bookkeeping services is unmatched by any other provider in our rankings. Their client success consultant model adds a layer of managed oversight that keeps engagements on track. The company has been recognized multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list, and their leadership literally wrote the book on virtual work (Virtual Culture by Bryan and Shannon Miles).

Pricing: Starting at approximately $2,100/mo for part-time VA services covering around 45 hours. Bookkeeping and social media management are priced separately based on scope. No setup fees or long-term contracts. The premium pricing reflects the cost of domestic talent and the managed service layer.

Best for: US-based businesses, executives, churches, and nonprofits that want American professionals handling their administrative work and bookkeeping. BELAY’s bookkeeping service is one of the strongest in the VA industry — if you need someone managing QuickBooks or Xero with accuracy and consistency, this is a top pick.

Notable strength: BELAY’s bookkeeping specialization sets it apart. Many VA companies offer bookkeeping as a checkbox item. BELAY treats it as a core service line with dedicated financial professionals who have deep expertise in small business accounting. Read more about VA bookkeeping services in our guide to virtual assistants for bookkeeping.

Read our full BELAY review | Visit BELAY

3. MyOutDesk — Best for Real Estate Virtual Assistants

Rating: 4.8/5 | Starting at ~$1,588/mo | Real estate and healthcare specialists

MyOutDesk is the longest-running VA company on this list. Founded around 2008 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, the company has placed thousands of Philippines-based virtual assistants with American businesses. While they have expanded into healthcare, legal, and financial services, real estate remains their core strength — and it is where they are genuinely difficult to beat.

Why they ranked #3: MyOutDesk’s deep real estate specialization, FBI-grade background checks, and dual-monitor time tracking system earned them a strong score on talent quality and client experience. Over 7,500 clients have used their service, and their VAs are trained specifically in real estate tools like Follow Up Boss, KvCORE, and MLS platforms. If you run a real estate team doing 50+ transactions a year, a MyOutDesk VA can handle the operational work that bogs down your licensed agents. For a deeper look at the real estate VA market, see our top real estate VA companies ranking and our real estate industry page.

Pricing: Expect to pay $1,588 to $1,988/mo for a full-time dedicated VA (40 hours/week). Rates depend on role complexity. MyOutDesk does not publish exact pricing on their website — you need to schedule a consultation call, which is a common frustration among buyers comparing providers. Full-time only, no part-time or hourly plans.

Best for: Real estate agents, teams, and brokerages that need transaction coordinators, ISAs, or admin VAs who already know real estate workflows. Also a strong choice for healthcare practices needing HIPAA-compliant administrative support. For healthcare-specific options, explore our healthcare industry page.

Notable strength: MyOutDesk’s dual-monitor time tracking system captures periodic screenshots throughout your VA’s shift, giving you granular visibility into daily work without micromanaging. Combined with FBI-grade background checks, it provides an accountability layer that few competitors match.

Read our full MyOutDesk review | Visit MyOutDesk

4. Time Etc — Best for Part-Time and Flexible VA Needs

Rating: 4.3/5 | Starting at $360/mo (10 hours) | Hourly packages

Time Etc has served over 22,000 entrepreneurs since its founding in the UK by Barnaby Lashbrooke. The company has since expanded into the US market and operates with a simple proposition: buy a block of hours each month, get matched with a dedicated VA, and use those hours however you need. No long-term contracts, no onboarding fees, and a replacement guarantee if your VA is not a good fit.

Why they ranked #4: Time Etc is the most accessible entry point on this list. Their 10-hour plan at $360/mo lets you test the VA model with minimal financial commitment. The roughly 2% acceptance rate and average of 12+ years of professional experience among their VAs means you are getting competent, seasoned professionals — not entry-level workers learning on the job. Unused hours roll over on larger plans, and you can cancel anytime.

Pricing: Three hourly tiers — 10 hours at $360/mo ($36/hr), 20 hours at $700/mo ($35/hr), and 40 hours at $1,360/mo ($34/hr). The per-hour rate drops as you commit to more hours. No contracts or setup fees. Important caveat: the hourly model gets expensive fast at high volumes. At 160 hours/month, you would pay $5,440 — nearly four times the cost of a full-time Stellar Staff VA. Time Etc is designed for part-time use.

Best for: Solo entrepreneurs, small business owners, and executives who need 10-40 hours of help per month. Ideal for testing whether a VA can work for your business before committing to a full-time provider. Also strong for project-based work — researching vendors, cleaning up a database, setting up a social media presence.

Notable strength: The no-contract, cancel-anytime model makes Time Etc the lowest-risk option for businesses trying virtual assistant support for the first time. Combined with the hour rollover feature and replacement guarantee, it is a forgiving platform for new VA users. If you are not sure whether you need a VA at all, take our VA quiz first.

Read our full Time Etc review | Visit Time Etc

5. Boldly — Best Premium Executive Virtual Assistant Service

Rating: 4.0/5 | Starting at $430/mo (10 hours) | W-2 employees with 10+ years experience

Boldly (formerly Worldwide101) has been operating since 2012 and occupies the premium end of the VA market. The company employs its team members as W-2 employees — not independent contractors — and requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience. Many Boldly assistants have 15+ years supporting C-suite executives, managing marketing programs, or leading projects.

Why they ranked #5: Boldly earned its spot through sheer talent depth. The W-2 employment model reduces turnover, and the experience requirement means your assistant can work independently with minimal oversight. For senior leaders who need a polished executive assistant capable of handling board communications, investor relations, and complex multi-timezone scheduling, Boldly delivers a caliber of support that most VA companies cannot match.

Pricing: Subscription plans starting at approximately $430/mo for 10 hours (~~$43/hr), $840/mo for 20 hours (~~$42/hr), and $1,600/mo for 40 hours (~$40/hr). The per-hour cost is the highest on this list, reflecting the W-2 model and the premium experience level. Boldly does not offer a full-time 160-hour plan — their model caps at 40 hours/month in standard tiers.

Best for: CEOs, founders, and senior executives at professional services firms, consulting companies, and venture-backed startups who need a seasoned right-hand operator. Also a strong fit for leaders who have been burned by junior VAs and want someone who can anticipate needs and manage up.

Notable strength: The W-2 employment model is unique among VA providers on this list. Boldly’s team members receive benefits, paid time off, and professional development, which means they stay longer and invest more deeply in each client relationship. Turnover is measurably lower than contractor-based competitors, giving you a more stable, long-term working relationship.

Read our full Boldly review | Visit Boldly

How to Choose the Right VA Company

The best VA company for your business depends on your specific situation. After evaluating 197+ providers, here is the decision framework we recommend.

If you need full-time, dedicated support on a budget, start with Stellar Staff. At $1,599/mo for 160 hours of dedicated support with rigorous vetting and account management, the per-hour value is the strongest in our rankings. This is the right choice for businesses that have enough work to fill a full-time role and want confidence in VA quality without paying US rates.

If US-based talent is non-negotiable, your top options are BELAY and Boldly. BELAY is the better fit for administrative and bookkeeping work at a mid-range price point. Boldly is for executive-level support where 10+ years of experience and the W-2 stability model justify the premium. Both companies guarantee domestic professionals with no offshore substitutions.

If you work in real estate, MyOutDesk has the deepest specialization. Their VAs are pre-trained on real estate tools and workflows, and their 15+ year track record in the vertical is difficult to replicate. For a broader view of this niche, see our top real estate VA companies ranking.

If you need part-time or flexible support, Time Etc is the safest starting point. The 10-hour plan at $360/mo lets you test the waters with minimal risk, and the no-contract model means you can cancel or scale up at any time. This is the right fit for solopreneurs and small business owners who need 10-40 hours of help per month.

If you need a premium executive assistant, Boldly is purpose-built for C-suite support. The experience level and employment model produce assistants who can manage complex calendars, coordinate board meetings, and communicate credibly with investors and clients on your behalf.

Not sure where to start? Take our VA needs quiz for a personalized recommendation based on your business type, budget, and workload. Or use our comparison tool to run a side-by-side analysis of any two providers in our database.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time VA Companies

One of the most consequential decisions you will make is whether to hire a full-time or part-time virtual assistant. The right model depends on your workload volume and how you plan to use the support.

Choose a full-time VA company when:

You have 30+ hours per week of delegable work. Admin, customer service, bookkeeping, lead generation, and social media management add up faster than most business owners expect.
You want a dedicated person who builds deep knowledge of your business, clients, and processes over time. Full-time VAs become more valuable the longer they work with you.
You need consistent daily availability during business hours — someone who is logged in, responsive, and available for real-time collaboration.
Cost efficiency matters. Full-time managed VA services like Stellar Staff ($1,599/mo) and MyOutDesk (~$1,588/mo) work out to $10-12/hour — a fraction of what part-time hourly providers charge per hour.

Choose a part-time VA company when:

You need fewer than 20 hours per week. Paying for full-time support when you only have 10-15 hours of work is a waste of budget.
Your workload fluctuates significantly month to month. Hourly plans with rollover (like Time Etc) absorb peaks and valleys without locking you into fixed costs.
You are testing the VA model for the first time and want to start small before committing.
You need specialized, high-level support for a limited number of hours. Boldly’s premium executive assistants at 10-20 hours/month make more sense than hiring a full-time generalist.

The choice between a VA company and an independent freelancer is a related but separate decision. Managed services handle vetting, payroll, replacements, and account management. Freelancers are cheaper but require you to manage the hiring and HR. For a detailed comparison, read our guide on VA companies vs. freelancers.

What Tasks Can a Virtual Assistant Handle?

Modern virtual assistants go well beyond answering phones and scheduling meetings. The scope of delegable work has expanded significantly as cloud-based tools have made remote collaboration seamless.

Administrative and executive support — Email management, calendar scheduling, travel booking, meeting coordination, document preparation, file organization, and data entry. This is the bread-and-butter category, and it is where most businesses start. See our guide on virtual assistants for email management for a deeper look.

Customer service — Phone support, live chat, email ticket management, order tracking, returns processing, and FAQ documentation. VAs trained on Zendesk, Freshdesk, and Intercom can handle frontline customer interactions at a fraction of the cost of in-house staff. Read more in our virtual assistant for customer service guide.

Bookkeeping and finance — Invoice processing, accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliation, expense categorization, and monthly reporting in QuickBooks or Xero. This requires accuracy and some domain expertise — not every VA company does it well. See our ranking of the top bookkeeping VA companies and our guide to virtual assistants for bookkeeping.

Marketing and social media — Content calendar management, post creation, community engagement, email campaigns, basic SEO research, blog formatting, and analytics reporting. For businesses that need a consistent presence without hiring a marketing team, this is a high-impact category. Read our guide to virtual assistants for social media management.

Sales and lead generation — Prospect research, list building, cold outreach, CRM management, appointment setting, and follow-up sequences.

Industry-specific tasks — Transaction coordination in real estate, insurance verification in healthcare, client intake for law firms, and inventory management for ecommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026?

VA costs range from $5-15/hour for freelance offshore VAs to $35-50/hour for premium US-based managed services. For full-time dedicated support through a managed company, expect $1,500-2,000/month for offshore providers (Stellar Staff starts at $1,599/mo; MyOutDesk starts at ~$1,588/mo) and $2,000-4,000/month for US-based providers (BELAY starts at $2,100/mo). Part-time hourly models like Time Etc charge $34-36/hour. Use our VA cost calculator to estimate costs for your specific needs, and read our full VA cost guide for a detailed breakdown.

What is the difference between managed and marketplace VA services?

Managed VA services (like Stellar Staff, BELAY, and MyOutDesk) handle everything: vetting, matching, payroll, HR management, and ongoing account oversight. You tell them what you need, and they deliver a pre-vetted VA with a dedicated account manager. Marketplace platforms (like Upwork or Fiverr) let you browse freelancer profiles and hire directly, giving you more control but requiring you to manage the entire relationship yourself. Managed services cost more but remove the operational burden. For most businesses, a managed service produces better outcomes. Learn more in our guide on VA companies vs. freelancers.

Can I try a VA service before committing long-term?

Yes, several top providers offer low-risk entry points. Stellar Staff includes a 7-day money-back guarantee on all plans. Time Etc has no long-term contracts — you can start with a 10-hour plan at $360 and cancel after one month if it does not work out. BELAY and Boldly both offer replacement guarantees if your initial VA match is not the right fit. The industry has moved toward lower-friction trial experiences because providers know that once you experience competent VA support, you rarely go back.

How do VA companies vet their virtual assistants?

Vetting rigor varies dramatically across providers. At the selective end, Stellar Staff reports a 0.1% acceptance rate with multi-stage screening that includes English proficiency testing, role-specific technical assessments, background checks, and supervised trial periods. Time Etc accepts roughly 2% of applicants and requires 12+ years of professional experience. MyOutDesk runs FBI-grade background checks and dual-monitor systems checks. Budget providers may only conduct a basic interview and skills test. The depth of vetting is one of the biggest differentiators between VA companies and directly impacts the quality of assistant you receive.

What if my VA is not a good fit?

Every company on this list offers some form of replacement guarantee. Stellar Staff provides free replacements at any time with no additional cost. BELAY reassigns you through their client success consultant. MyOutDesk matches you with a new VA at no extra placement fee. Time Etc rematches at no charge. Boldly reassigns from their W-2 roster. The key difference is replacement speed — Stellar Staff’s Executive plan delivers new matches within 24-48 hours, while other providers may take 1-2 weeks. Always ask about replacement timelines before signing up.

Are offshore VAs as good as US-based VAs?

This depends entirely on the vetting process and the specific VA, not their geographic location. A rigorously vetted offshore VA from a provider like Stellar Staff (0.1% acceptance rate) will outperform a loosely screened US-based freelancer in most administrative and operational tasks. That said, US-based VAs have natural advantages in cultural alignment, native English communication, and timezone overlap. If your VA will be interacting directly with American clients by phone, a domestic provider like BELAY or Boldly may reduce communication friction. For back-office work — data entry, bookkeeping, email management — location matters far less than skill and reliability.

How quickly can I get started with a VA company?

Onboarding speed varies by provider and plan tier. Stellar Staff’s Executive plan delivers matched candidates within 24-48 hours. Their standard plan takes about one week. BELAY and MyOutDesk typically complete matching within 1-2 weeks after an initial consultation. Time Etc can match you within a few days of signing up. Boldly’s process includes a discovery call and matching period that usually takes 1-2 weeks. For a smooth start, review our how to hire a virtual assistant guide and prepare a task list, tool access, and communication preferences before your onboarding call.

What industries benefit most from virtual assistants?

VAs deliver strong ROI across many industries, but several verticals see outsized benefits. Real estate teams use VAs for transaction coordination, lead follow-up, and MLS management — see our real estate VA rankings and real estate industry page. Healthcare practices delegate appointment scheduling, insurance verification, and medical billing. Ecommerce businesses offload customer service, order management, and product listing updates. Law firms use VAs for document preparation, client intake, and calendar management. Financial services firms delegate data entry, client onboarding, and reporting. Not sure if your business is ready? Read our guide on signs you need a virtual assistant.

Do I need to provide tools and software for my VA?

In most cases, yes. Your VA will need access to the tools your business already uses — email, calendar, CRM, project management, and any industry-specific software. The VA company handles the employment side (payroll, HR, equipment), but you provide the software licenses and system access. Some providers, like Stellar Staff, train their VAs on common tools before placement, which reduces the learning curve. Our VA onboarding checklist covers everything you need to prepare before your VA starts.

Our Verdict

After evaluating 197+ virtual assistant companies across hundreds of hours of research, testing, and client feedback analysis, Stellar Staff is our top pick for 2026. Their 0.1% acceptance rate, full-time dedicated VAs starting at $1,599/mo, 7-day money-back guarantee, and dedicated Customer Success Managers on every plan make them the strongest overall package in the market. Visit Stellar Staff to get started.

For US-based support, BELAY leads the domestic market with specialized bookkeeping and a 15+ year track record. For real estate professionals, MyOutDesk has the deepest industry expertise. For flexible part-time help, Time Etc offers the lowest-risk entry point. And for premium executive assistance, Boldly delivers senior-caliber talent through a W-2 employment model that prioritizes stability.

The right VA company depends on your budget, workload, and specific business needs. Use our comparison tool to run side-by-side evaluations, try our VA cost calculator to estimate your savings, or take our VA needs quiz for a personalized recommendation. And browse our full reviews directory to explore all 197+ providers in our database.